The Australians may be a lesser force after retirements by some star players but former India skipper Kapil Dev has cautioned Anil Kumble's men against taking the world champions lightly in the forthcoming four-match Test series.
"Let them land and play here. Only their former players like Adam Gilchrist have branded them as inexperienced. That may be their ploy to remain underdogs," Kapil, who is here to take part in a business meeting, said.
"The Australians are fighters and they would not concede anything easily. The series is going to be a hard fought one," said the skipper of the 1983 World Cup winning team.
The former all-rounder also said it would be unwise to write off Sourav Ganguly, who was not picked for the Irani Trophy, and felt he has the ability to stage a comeback.
"He is a determined chap. But he needs to work harder to make another comeback. He still has some time and also fair amount of cricket left in him. He w ill have to work hard for it," said Kapil.
Kapil also sympathised with players who were banned by the Bangladesh Cricket Board for joining the 'rebel' Indian Cricket League.
"Any player in the world has the right to play any where. Stopping him from that is a crime and is unjustified."
Kapil also accused the BCCI of trying to monopolise cricket and felt it was wrong to brand any one joining ICL as a rebel.
"Both IPL and ICL are good for Indian cricket. Both are giving chance to many of those who don't get much opportunities," he said.
The former skipper also ridiculed the criticism directed towards Mahendra Singh Dhoni for skipping the Test series against Sri Lanka to rest his body.
"Dhoni is a wonderful player and has given his 100 per cent whenever he has played. What is wrong if he had opted out of the Sri Lanka Test series in order to give rest to his aching body? We should respect such players and should give some liberty to them," said Kapil.
Kapil praised Sri Lanka spinner Ajantha Mendis but said the Indian bowlers should also be lauded for helping the team win the ODI series.
"Undoubtedly Mendis ran through the Indian bating in Test series but don't forget to pat the Indian bowlers who have won the one-day series for us," he added.
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